Exploring the Human-Animal Bond with Dr. Michele Whitney

Send us Fan Mail This episode of The Resilient Animal podcast, welcomes Dr. Michele Whitney, a newly minted PhD in Human Services. Michele discusses her journey into research on the human-animal bond, driven by her personal experience of adopting a cat named Samson. Michele highlights the lack of representation of people of color in the existing literature on the human-animal bond and how her experiences as an African American woman influenced her research. The episode delves into the complexities of pet loss, the potential racial disparities in pet ownership, and the significance of continuing bonds in the grieving process. 00:00 Introduction to The Resilient Animal 00:32 Meet Michele Whitney: A Journey to PhD 02:42 The Human-Animal Bond: Michele's Research 07:32 Cultural Perspectives on Pet Ownership 11:22 COVID-19 and Pet Ownership 16:13 Challenges and Reflections on Pet Loss 28:29 Michele's Personal Experiences with Pets 43:08 Conclusion and Future Discussions https://www.instagram.com/resilientanimal/https://www.facebook.com/TheResilientAnimalhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/association-for-human-animal-bond-studies/